Saving Money at the Grocery Store

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could save some money without changing your spending habits? Well, you can! Here are a few tips to help you save a few bucks or even earn a few on your next trip to the grocery store.

Grocery Store Apps

Grocery stores have gotten in on the digital coupon game and can save you a ton. The Apps are free and can be easily downloaded using your Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Vons and Albertsons, Stater Bros and Ralphs, to name a few, offer reward programs connected to your phone number. You can “clip” coupons and accumulate reward points to use later. You can view the weekly ad, coupons and special offers (some of which are personalized for you based on your spending habits). There are often free offers and cash discounts at the register with a minimum purchase.

*And don’t forget your Just for You Rewards at Vons/Albertsons! For every $1 spent on groceries you earn 1 point towards your rewards and up to 2 points per $1 spent on many gift card purchases. Once you accumulate 100 points (spent $100 on groceries) you have earned $.10 off per gallon of gas at your nearest Vons gas station or participating Chevron. Von’s gas stations will allow you to use up to 10 reward points on your fill up! That is $1 off per gallon! You don’t have to use your rewards on gas anymore though. You can use them to score free products or $1 off your purchase. These offers are found in the “Rewards” tab.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

This is a biggie for people with children or busy work schedules. Plan out your meals for the week, especially dinners and lunches. Doing this helps you to stick to stuff you will need for the week and can help reduce the amount of whim buys. It can also help you to avoid purchasing things you may not use and have to throw out, what a waste right?

Make a List

Sounds like something your mom used to say back in the day before cell phones and apps but it is seriously helps you save money at the market. When you get to the store with a list, you are more inclined to stick to just what you “need”. Having a written (or typed) list when going to the store can save you time and lets be honest, the less time you spend perusing the aisles, the less money you are likely to spend. Grab a pen and paper while checking out the local ad before your next shopping trip and I guarantee a much more pleasant experience.

Don’t go Hungry!

Easier said than done, yes, but making sure you have eaten before hitting the market is a sure fire way to spend less money. Some of us don’t even think about grocery shopping until we are a few hours past a much needed bite but going on an empty stomach can cause an overflowing cart. When you are hungry, everything sounds delicious! Save yourself some time and money and grab a granola bar before your next spree.

Reusable Shopping Bags

Really want to make sure you stick to budget? Try taking just 1 or 2 reusable shopping bags the next time you hit the market and make sure to stick to what you can fit in them. This might seem a bit restrictive but it can help you keep the amount of items you are purchasing to a minimum. If it’s too much to carry, it might be too much to buy. Of course this doesn’t apply when you are buying heavy or large items such as a gallon of milk or big bag of dog food, but it can help on those in between trips to the store. And don’t forget some stores give you a small discount for bringing your own bags!

Watch the Brands

There will always be some items you just can’t bring yourself to buy the store brand version of and that is okay. Consider trying some of them instead of the “name brand” product and you might be pleasantly surprised. Some store brands are made by the very same name brand companies you are buying from already. Many of these items are just as good as the brand name products and for a much lower price.

Clearance Bins

Yes, many grocery stores have clearance bins! You might not have noticed them because they are often in a back corner of the store. These areas are a great place to find sweet deals! These products are usually items being cleared off the shelf to make room for new ones, damaged items (dented boxes, etc), seasonal items and baked goods they made too much of. These bins offer up to 75% off the regular price. Check yours out today!